Does Watermelon Go Bad? Eating It At Its Best

Watermelon is a very refreshing fruit that people all over the world love to eat especially during hot summer days. The watermelon contains a lot of water and it also has a lot of electrolytes, this makes it a sweet, great tasting and all natural thirst-quencher that you and your family will easily enjoy.

The watermelon has a tough rind and it is enclosed in a solid exterior which protects the soft, juicy meat inside. A lot of people think that because it is well-protected, it will not easily go bad. Unfortunately, the watermelon is a highly perishable fruit. Eating it right away after harvest or purchase is very important.

The best way to have the watermelon is to eat it while it is at its peak of ripeness. This will help ensure that you are going to get a lot of sweetness and flavor with each bite. If the watermelon goes past its shelf life, it will have an awful taste and odor. Here’s what you need to know about its storage life:

Does Watermelon Go Bad?

Simply put, just like other fruits, watermelon can go bad. As a matter of fact, it is one of the fruits that can easily go bad especially of they have been opened. Farmers typically harvest watermelons just as they are about to reach their peak ripeness, this means that you should consume it as soon as possible.

Watermelons have a limited storage life. Since it contains a lot of sugar and water, microorganisms can easily thrive on its exposed surfaces. People even say that when its rind has been cut, you can treat it much like sugar water, waiting to give nutrients to humans or microbes, whichever comes first.

There is no such thing as too much watermelon. This is why you should always aim to eat it days before it goes bad. You can easily eat it raw, and you can also make sweet smoothies and juices from it. Its pink or red meat is filled with water and antioxidants, making the watermelon satisfying and very nutritious.

How Can I Tell If The Watermelon Has Gone Bad?

The best way to tell if the watermelon is no longer good enough to eat is by taking a look at its rind. If it has a lot of brown spots and if it no longer feels firm to the touch, then the watermelon may already be rotten inside. You should also try to smell the watermelon since ripe ones have a nice fragrance.

On the other hand, a watermelon that has already gone bad will have a foul, sour odor. In some cases the watermelon can have an alcohol-like smell which will indicate that it has already started to ferment. The watermelon should also have a deep pink or red color when cut, if not, then you should discard it.

If the watermelon goes bad, it will have visible mold growth on some of its surfaces. The cut surface can also have a layer of slime because of the presence of microbes. Never try to eat watermelon that has started to rot since it can easily give you food-borne illnesses.

How Can I Keep Watermelons From Going Bad?

If you want to increase or make the most out of the watermelon’s shelf life, then you should consider storing it properly, using refrigeration and processing leftovers. If you plan on eating the watermelon right away, you can wash it, cut it, and then store it inside the refrigerator to decrease its temperature.

Doing so will allow you to store the watermelon for a few days before it goes bad. If you want to store it longer, you should not cut it and just put it inside the refrigerator whole. If you want to store it for up to a week, you should not wash it and instead of putting it in the refrigerator, put it in a cool, dry place.

Leftovers will tend to spoil in a matter of hours. The best way to keep them from going bad is to cut them into chunks and use them as an ingredient to salads, dishes and beverages. You can also puree them, pour the mixture on a plastic mold and freeze them to make watermelon popsicles.

Conclusion

Watermelons are amazing fruits that can quench your thirst, give you a lot of natural sweetness and provide you with loads﻿ of nutr﻿ients. Unfortunately, what makes them so great is also what makes them very perishable. This is why they should be consumed as soon as possible after buying or harvesting.

Watermelons can easily go bad. Mold and other microbes can easily thrive on all the sugar and water that it contains, this is why you should store the fruit properly depending on when you plan to eat it. If you want to consume it right away, you should cut with a clean knife and refrigerate the watermelon.

If you want to store them for several days, I highly recommend that you avoid washing it and that you store it whole in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight. If the watermelon smells weird and if it has dark spots on its exterior, you should discard it right away so you can avoid health problems.

My name is Emily Taylor, gardening is my passion and I’m looking forward to sharing it with everyone. I know that there are millions of people out there want their backyard and garden be attractive just like their front yard, so I am here to help you create your own backyard paradise.